UK Market Research Articles

‘A Brilliant Meteor Across the Filmic Heavens’: Brigitte Helm in British Film Culture, 1926–33

This article examines German star Brigitte Helm within British film culture across 1926–33. I identify three stages in her active career on British screens. Firstly, I analyse the impact of her debut role in Metropolis (1927), demonstrating how Helm was central to its marketing and reception within the UK – and how this legacy shaped her subsequent stardom within British film culture. Secondly, I argue that the apogee of Helm’s stardom within the UK was 1929–30, when her silent films achieved their greatest critical and commercial successes. I show that she became a central figure not just to popular trade discussion, but to highbrow critics associated with Close Up. Finally, I identify the specific circumstances that led to her premature disappearance from British screens after 1933. I analyse how – despite her English-language productions of 1931–32 – the coming of sound limited her appeal to the UK market, a situation exacerbated by the breakdown of industrial/political relations with Germany. Through an analysis of a wide range of contemporary trade and press material, I present Helm as a case study of the shifting industrial and cultural landscape of a transitional era of British film culture.

Healthiness of Meat-Based Products in Comparison to Their Plant-Based Alternatives in the UK Market: A Packaging Evaluation.

This study evaluated the healthiness of meat products (n = 62) and their plant-based (PB) counterparts (n = 62) available in the UK market. Back-of-pack (BoP) and front-of-pack (FoP) nutrition label information, nutrition and health claims, and nutrient profiling model scores were compared. BoP labels revealed that meat products had higher protein, fat, and saturated fat content (p = 0.029), whilst PB alternatives were higher in dietary fibre and carbohydrates (p < 0.001). Red colour coding (FoP) for fat and saturated fat ('high') was more prominent in meat products (23 and 35%, respectively), and the red meat category had the most products with high fat and saturated fat content. Only 15% of meat products made nutrition claims compared to 40% of PB alternatives, and none included health claims. Most red meat PB alternatives made a nutrition claim, all related to the protein content (34%). The nutrient profiling model indicated that 74% of the PB alternatives were 'healthy' compared to 60% of the meat products. No association was found between the product type (meat/PB) and healthiness, except for the red meat products, which showed a significant negative association (p = 0.005), suggesting that these products corresponded to less healthy options. Therefore, PB alternatives can be considered as healthier substitutes for meat products.

A survey of commercial soda–lime–silica glass compositions: Trends and opportunities I—Compositions, properties and theoretical energy requirements

AbstractThis research aimed to investigate the compositions of commercial soda–lime–silica glasses currently present in the UK market, as there is a lack of recent research on the subject, with the most recent studies now being over 20 years old. This study involved sampling and analyzing the compositions of over 30 commercial soda–lime–silica container and float glass samples, primarily from the UK market, in 2022 to 2023. Based on the results, the characteristics of these commercial glasses has been evaluated using multiple property models and analysis methods. In the first part, we illustrated the opportunities for glass manufacturers to modify or adjust their glass compositions to enable lower melting temperatures, thereby reducing energy demand and fuel carbon emissions. This can help the glass industry meet its net zero carbon emissions targets. It de‐risks compositional modifications for a glass manufacturer by highlighting that other manufacturers have already successfully commercially implemented such changes.

A survey of commercial soda–lime–silica glass compositions: Trends and opportunities II—Principal component analysis (PCA) of glass compositions

AbstractIn the first part of the study, we sampled and investigated the composition of commercial glasses in the UK market from 2022 to 2023, as well as property data provided by various models. In this part, we utilize principal component analysis (PCA) to conduct a comparative analysis, integrating these data with the composition of commercial glass documented in previous literature. The widely held belief that the composition of commercial soda–lime–silica glasses has remained essentially unchanged over the past 30+ years is challenged by this research. The differences in composition of current commercial glass compositions compared to glasses from 30 to 40 years ago have been quantified. This not only sheds light on the direction of travel and reasons for adjustments to UK glass compositions over recent decades, but it also provides insights and predictions into the future trends.

A Review on a Drug Registration Process in United Kingdom

This review outlines the regulatory modifications in several pharmaceutical industries that have been impacted by Brexit and develops new standards-based recommendations from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). To get insight into the regulatory changes that occurred in the pharmaceutical industry during the dissolution of Europe and Britain, retrospective and contemporaneous reviews were used. As the transition period concluded, the MHRA issued a library of new guidelines on January 1, 2021. The several pharmaceutical industries covered by this guidance include clinical trials, medical equipment, imports and exports of Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for approving medicinal products in the UK. The agency offers various routes for marketing authorisation, including national, international, and decentralised procedures. The national routes include a 150-day assessment, rolling review, European Commission (EC) Decision Reliance Procedure, decentralised and mutual recognition reliance procedure, and unfettered access procedure for marketing authorisations approved in Northern Ireland. International routes include Project Orbis and Access Consortium. Applicants must submit their applications through the MHRA submissions portal in electronic Common Technical Document (eCTD) format. The agency verifies the technical validity of submissions using the Lorenz Docubridge validation tool. The MHRA offers fast-track marketing authorisation for products with strong public health benefits or those addressing supply shortages. Applications that do not meet guidelines will be rejected, and applicants must resubmit after correcting errors. Understanding MHRA guidelines and requirements facilitates market entry for medicinal products in the UK. Conclusion: Any medicinal agent to be marked in the United Kingdom has to follow the guidelines and regulations given by the MHRA a regulatory authority which approve drug products. The objective of the review article is to highlights information regarding the requirements. Different types routes in registration of medicinal products in a market in the United Kingdom knowing the requirements of the MHRA guidelines, it is too easy for a product to get into the UK market.

Net-zero life cycle supply chain assessment of heat pump technologies

In this study, a comparative life cycle assessment of different heat pump technologies based on multiple supply chain scenarios according to the UK market has been conducted. In addition to conventional heat pumps – air-source heat pump (ASHP), ground-source heat pump (GSHP), and water-source heat pump (WSHP) - a novel hydrogen-source heat pump (HSHP) has been studied from an environmental aspect. Different supply chain scenarios have been developed for all technologies based on the leading supplier of heat pump components in the UK. Results showed that the manufacturing and operation of heat pumps are the main causes of the environmental impacts. Among the four technologies studied, ASHP had the highest negative environmental impacts across most categories. HSHP stands out with notably lower carbon emissions compared to other cases. However, in certain impact categories, HSHP exhibited more significant consequences, especially concerning land use and land-related pollution. Regarding CO2 emissions, ASHP is projected to achieve the most substantial reduction, with expected reductions of 23 %, 60 %, and 97 % by 2030, 2040, and 2050, respectively. GSHP, WSHP, and HSHP are also predicted to experience significant CO2 emission reductions of 94 %, 95 %, and 59 % by 2050, aligning with the UK's net-zero goal.

Daily benefits

Optician presents details of some of the best single use contact lenses on the UK market

Cottrill &amp; Co remains a Key Player in The UK Market

Cottrill &amp; Co remains a Key Player in The UK Market

Interaction between investor sentiment, limits to arbitrage and the returns of stock market anomalies: evidence from the UK stock market

This study investigates the role of two prominent concepts in finance: limits to arbitrage and investor sentiment in stock prices. The study examines how changes in market-wide investor sentiment and limits to arbitrage can affect the performance of nine UK stock market anomalies. The extant literature relating to investor sentiment focuses mainly on the US stock market, whilst research on the UK market typically examines aggregated index-level data. In addition, previous studies have focused on examining investor sentiment and limits to arbitrage separately. Using data from UK-listed companies over the period January 1997 to December 2019, the study finds that five stock market anomalies were related to changes in UK investor sentiment and produced significantly higher returns following periods of high investor sentiment, while the effect of limits to arbitrage was mostly limited. However, the interaction analysis provided support to the limits to arbitrage theory and demonstrated that the effect of high investor sentiment on stock market anomalies was more pronounced when combined with high limits to arbitrage and had less effect during periods characterised by low limits to arbitrage.

Guidelines and regulations applicable to vitro diagnostic tests in the UK: a scoping review

ObjectiveTo describe recommendations applicable to new diagnostic and screening tests brought to market in the UK as of 01 June 2023; and extract agreements, disagreements and gaps.DesignExtant regulations, recommendations and...

Rethinking the legal test for excessive pricing: insights from the landmark UK CMA v Pfizer/Flynn Case and its legal implications

Abstract The legal treatment of excessive pricing in the pharmaceutical sector has been a topic of intense debate. This article examines the UK Competition and Market Authority (CMA) approach in the Pfizer/Flynn case and the subsequent appeal. It explores the implications of the Courts’ findings on the CMA’s latest investigations. The article criticizes the UK Courts for imposing unnecessarily high burden on the CMA, which will likely impose additional burdens on future investigators. The analysis also suggests that the cost-plus test conducted by the CMA is a very advanced methodology that can provide different benchmarks not only for assessing the excessiveness but also for assessing the unfairness under the 2-fold United Brands test.

TWO- TO FIVE-YEAR OUTCOMES OF 503 FIXED-BEARING ANKLE ARTHROPLASTIES

IntroductionThis is a multi-centre, prospective, observational study of 503 INFINITY fixed bearing total ankle arthroplasties. We report the minimum two-year results of this prosthesis which was introduced to the UK Market in 2014 and is now the most used ankle arthroplasty in the National Joint Registry of England and Wales.MethodsPatients were recruited from 11 centres in the United Kingdom between June 2016 and November 2019. Demographic, radiographic, and functional outcome data (Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale, Manchester Oxford Foot Ankle Questionnaire and Euroquol 5D-5L) were collected preoperatively, at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years and 5 years. The average age was 67.8 (range 23.9 to 88.5) and average BMI 29.3 (18.9 to 48.0). The COFAS grading system was used to stratify deformity. There were 261 (51.9%) COFAS Type 1, 122 (24.2%) COFAS Type 2, 31 (6.2%) COFAS 3 and 89 (17.7%) COFAS type 4. 38 patients (7.6%) presented with inflammatory arthritis. 99 (19.7%) implantations utilised patient specific instrumentation. Complications and reoperations were recorded as adverse events. Radiographs were assessed for lucencies, cysts and/or subsidence.ResultsThe mean follow up was 34.2 months (range 24–64). 15 patients have died, 8 withdrawn and 3 lost to follow up. 8 implants (1.6%) have been revised. According to the Glazebrook classification there were low grade complications in 6.6%, medium grade in 1.4% and high grade in 1.6%. There have been an additional 13 non revision re-operations (2.6%) at the latest follow up. There was a significant (p &lt; 0.01) improvement across all functional outcome scores at a minimum of 2yr follow up.Discussion and conclusionThis large cohort has shown a low early revision rate and high functional outcomes with a low-profile fixed bearing prosthesis.

Moving on Up for Tomorrow’s Production

Grob-UK’s move into a new facility at the end of 2023 has given it a better platform to continue to grow its presence and position in the UK market

Volatility transmission in the property market during two inflationary periods: The 2008–2009 global financial crisis and the COVID-19 crisis

This research paper investigates the changes in correlation patterns of volatility between the UK and US property markets and other global markets during periods of inflation. We use the global financial crisis (GFC) and the COVID-19 crisis as proxies for two inflationary periods. Our data set consists of the period between April 11, 2007, to April 4, 2022. We apply a bivariate Dynamic Conditional Correlation (DCC) and a Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model to explain the time-varying correlation between UK and US property markets and other global property markets. According to our analysis, there is a sizable time-varying link between the real estate markets in our sample. Additionally, we discover that the GFC and COVID-19 exhibit different relationships with UK and US real estate market indices.

Charging change: Analysing the UK's electric vehicle infrastructure policies and market dynamics

Over the past decades, there has been a rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and a gradual reduction in the number of Gas Stations, aligning with carbon neutrality objectives. Major oil companies, like Shell, are transferring Gas Stations to Charging Stations, supported by UK government incentives to stimulate the charging infrastructure. This paper systematically investigates three key stakeholders: government, investors, and end-users, examining their interactions and the transition of stations, and evaluating the economic intrinsic competition relationships. Integrating the complex networks, it spatially represents the relative positions of stations and designates Gas Stations as potential future locations for Charging Stations. Meanwhile, this paper comprehensively analyses various policies targeting the UK market, applies dual market analysis to compare the simple and complex market structures among policy scenarios, emphasising the necessity for applying complex interactive markets in industrial evaluation. The findings reveal that direct policies targeting Charging Stations exert immediate and positive effects, while indirect policies targeting Gas Stations and consumers demonstrate marginal diminishing effects. Furthermore, subsidies on the EV prices are less effective compared with other policies, like construction subsidies, operation subsidies, etc., highlighting the need for targeted policy designs, to maximise the expansion and efficacy of EVs and Charging infrastructure.

Exploring the opinions and potential impact of unflavoured e-liquid on smoking cessation among people who smoke and smoking relapse among people who previously smoked and now use e-cigarettes: findings from a UK-based mixed methods study

BackgroundAlthough electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) appear to be effective in helping people who smoke to stop smoking, concerns about use of e-cigarettes among young people have led to restrictions on non-tobacco flavoured e-liquids in some countries and some US states. These restrictions could reduce the appeal of these products to non-smoking youth but could have negative consequences for people who smoke or use e-cigarettes.MethodsIn this mixed methods study, we recruited UK adults who smoked or used to smoke and subsequently vaped to explore their opinions of unflavoured e-liquids and their beliefs about how they would be impacted by hypothetical e-liquid flavour restrictions. Participants trialled an unflavoured e-liquid instead of their usual nicotine product for four hours and completed a survey and an online interview.ResultsUsing Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis and graphically presented data, we found differences in participants’ opinions of unflavoured e-liquid. If only unflavoured, tobacco flavoured, and menthol flavoured e-liquids remained on the UK market, some people who smoke or vape may be unaffected, but some may relapse to smoking or continue smoking. Despite most wanting to prevent young people from initiating vaping, participants had varying opinions on whether flavour restrictions would be an effective method.ConclusionsThe findings highlight that people who smoke and vape could be impacted by flavour restrictions in a range of ways, some of which could have a potential adverse impact on harm reduction efforts in the UK (e.g., by making smoking more appealing than vaping).

Beyond Quintessential Englishness: Wet Leg’s idiosyncratic rendition of the Isle of Wight

One of the most successful new acts in the international anglophone music scene in 2022 was Wet Leg, an indie (i.e. independent music label) ensemble led by singer-guitarists Hester Chambers and Rhian Teasdale. The band attracted attention for its effective pop-rock compositions and arrangements, the sardonic tone of lead singer Teasdale’s delivery of their debut single ‘Chaise longue’ and the band’s inventive music videos. One element that was prominent in the band’s biographies was its origin in the Isle of Wight (IOW), a diamond shaped island lying off the south coast of England, close to the major port cities of Portsmouth and Southampton. The island provided both an insular context for the development of the band and an element of ‘domestic exoticism’ within the UK market. The latter aspect was also manifest in the band’s decision to employ a female Morris (traditional folk dance) troupe to accompany its performance at the 2023 BRIT Awards, where it was awarded prizes for best group and best new artist. This article focuses on the role of the IOW in the band’s biography, perception and oeuvre, with particular regard to its self-produced music videos, and the nature of the island as a repository of what might be regarded as quintessential English sensibilities that the band has inflected in ways that appeal to both domestic and broader audiences.

A Financial Analysis of Ryanair in UK Market

This report evaluates external environment and internal environment of Ryanair. It has certain competitiveness in the UK market, but it still faces challenges from potential entrants, suppliers, buyers, substitutes and industry competitiveness. In order to remain competitive in the market and meet customer needs, Ryanair airlines need to continuously innovate and improve services, while establishing long-term and stable cooperative relationships with partners to achieve sustainable development. The conclusion is that Ryanair has recovered from the pandemic downturn in 2023 financial year. Its risks are identified and risk management measures are analysed. First, Ryanair faces legal risks as it faces increasingly complex data protection laws and regulations. Second, in a highly competitive industry, the company faces operational risk from being exposed to significant price and other pressures. Third, Ryanair faces financial risks. Fourth, Ryanair faces cybersecurity risks and may incur increasing costs to minimize these risks. Within the company, Ryanair has established a clear functional organizational structure and clear division of responsibilities and authorities including the appointment of head of internal audit and the chief risk officer. Ryanair has implemented a risk management program across the company, with senior management responsible for reviewing and monitoring the financial and non-financial controls in place to manage risks to the business.

Liquidity and dynamic leverage: the moderating impacts of leverage deviation and target instability

PurposeWe explore the impact of equity liquidity on a firm’s dynamic leverage adjustments and the moderating impacts of leverage deviation and target instability on the link between equity liquidity and dynamic leverage in the UK market.Design/methodology/approachIn applying the two-step system GMM, we estimate our model by exploring suitable instruments for the dynamic variable(s), i.e. lagged values of the dynamic term(s).FindingsOur analyses document that a firm’s equity liquidity has a positive impact on the speed of adjustment (SOA) of its leverage ratio back to the target ratio in the UK market. We also demonstrate that the positive relationship between liquidity and SOA is more pronounced for firms whose current position is relatively close to their target leverage ratio and whose target ratio is relatively stable.Practical implicationsThis study provides important implications for both firms’ managers and investors. Particularly, firms’ managers who wish to increase the leverage SOA to enhance firms’ value need to give great attention to their equity liquidity. Investors who want to evaluate firms’ performance could also consider their equity liquidity and leverage SOA.Originality/valueWe are the first to enrich the literature on leverage adjustments by identifying equity liquidity as a new determinant of SOA in a single developed country with many differences in the structure and development of capital markets, ownership concentration and institutional characteristics. We also provide new empirical evidence of the joint effect of equity liquidity, leverage deviation and target instability on leverage SOA.

A comparative analysis of nutritional quality, amino acid profile, and nutritional supplementations in plant-based products and their animal-based counterparts in the UK

Plant-based (PB) food products have surged in popularity over the past decade. Available PB products in the UK market were extracted from NielsenIQ Brandbank and compared with animal-based (AB) counterparts in their nutrient contents and calculated Nutri-Scores. The amino acid contents of four beef products and their PB alternatives were analysed by LC-MS/MS. PB products consistently exhibited significantly higher fibre content across all food groups. Protein was significantly higher in AB products from all food groups except beef and ready meals. PB products were more likely to have higher Nutri-Scores compared to AB counterparts, albeit with greater score variability within each food group. Nutrient fortifications were primarily focused on dairy and ready meals; the most supplemented nutrient was vitamin B12 (found in 15% of all products). A higher proportion of EAAs in relation to total protein content was observed in all beef products.